Torture

David Howarth: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 6 February 2006, Official Report, column 852W, on torture, what assessment he has made of whether the US's interpretations of its obligations under the convention against torture differ from internationally accepted interpretations of those obligations.

Tony Blair: Secretary of State Rice confirmed in her statement on 5 December 2005 that it is US policy to comply with the UN convention against torture. On ratifying the convention, the US entered a reservation stating that it
	"considers itself bound by the obligation under Article 16 to prevent" cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment" only insofar as the term "cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment" means the "cruel, unusual and inhumane treatment or punishment prohibited by the Fifth, Eighth, and/or Fourteenth Amendments to the constitution of the United States".
	The US also entered a number of formal understandings of its convention obligations. Other states have also made reservations and interpretative declarations in respect of their obligations under the convention.

Farm Subsidies

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much in EU subsidies farmers in the UK received in each year between 1997 and 2005.

Ben Bradshaw: Farmers in the United Kingdom receive a variety of payments which are recorded in the income account of the economic accounts for agriculture prepared by DEFRA annually. A summary is show in the following table.
	
		
			  £ million 
			  Calendar years 
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004(2) 2005(2) 
		
		
			 Coupled payments (less levies)  
			 Crop subsidies  
			 Arable area payments (excluding setaside) 1114 1051 1056 933 827 875 925 900 — 
			 Other crop subsidies 19 16 14 11 3 2 3 12 11 
			   
			 Livestock subsidies  
			 Beef producers 1116 923 902 899 831 980 960 1040 201 
			 Sheep producers 354 479 410 337 184 275 286 318 — 
			 Dairy producers — — — 22 79 — — 108 — 
			   
			 Less levies:  
			 Milk superlevy -14 -32 -9 -15 — — — -8 -1 
			   
			 Total coupled payments 2588 2436 2373 2187 1923 2132 2174 2369 212 
			   
			 Decoupled and other payments  
			 Single Payment Scheme — — — — — — — — 2375 
			 Arable Area Payments on set-aside 90 88 170 127 180 143 177 129 — 
			 Animal disease compensation 15 14 20 29 23 54 61 49 55 
			 Less favoured areas support schemes — — — — 165 165 163 153 144 
			 Agri-environment schemes: 83 108 129 140 168 196 222 253 257 
			 Weather Aid — — — — — 5 — — — 
			 Total decoupled and other payments 189 210 318 297 536 562 622 585 2831 
			   
			 Total payments less levies 2777 2646 2692 2484 2459 2694 2796 2955 3043 
		
	
	(2) Provisonal
	Source:
	Defra Statistics

Flooding

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made by (a) her Department and (b) the Environment Agency of the causes of the River Roding flood on 30 October 2000; and what (i) schemes are in place and (ii) plans have been made to prevent a future flood.

Elliot Morley: Defra has policy responsibility for management of flood risk in England, funds most of the Environment Agency's flood risk activities and provides grant aid on a project by project basis to the other flood risk management operating authorities to support their investment in improvement works. The Agency has powers to undertake works on designated "main rivers" while the London borough of Redbridge (LBR) has similar powers for "ordinary watercourses". Defra has funded three studies carried out by LBR since 2000 on the non-main river aspects of flood risk.
	The Agency believes the flooding was primarily caused by the surface water drainage system backing up and being unable to discharge into the river. This affected properties and roads in the Chigwell Road area of Woodford Green.
	Since 2000, the Agency has carried out repairs to a low spot in the flood defences behind the Broadmead Baptist Church and selective de-silting and reed removal upstream and downstream of Chigwell Road to maintain channel flow capacity. Thames Water and LBR have repaired missing or broken flap valves to the outfalls in the river. This will prevent river water backing up into the drainage system at times of high flow but a risk of flooding remains because surface water drainage will not be able to discharge into the river during periods of high flows.
	The Agency is to complete a flood risk management strategy for the Roding Catchment early this summer. A flood storage area in the upper catchment of the Roding is considered to be the most sustainable solution, economically and environmentally. The Agency patrols for debris every other month, carries out annual tree/hedge/bankside vegetation management during winter months, ad-hoc blockage/obstruction removal and regular inspections and monitoring of flood defence assets.

Timber

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what legal advice her Department received regarding the exclusion of social criteria in legislation relating to illegal timber imports and exports.

Elliot Morley: I am not aware of any legislation related to the import and export of timber that specifically prohibits social considerations from being considered in such commercial activity. This question is closely related to a request made by WWF UK to see the legal advice on which the Government's timber procurement policy was based and I shall explain why that request was declined.
	The European Treaty and European public procurement directives set principles and rules that govern the manner in which public contracting authorities specify their requirement, select potential bidders and award contracts. The UK Government's interpretation of these principles and rules has led it to conclude that it is not permissible for public sector contracting authorities to specify requirements that are not directly related to the subject matter of the contract in question and that criteria aimed at protecting or improving the economic and social well being of forest dependent people are generally not directly related to the subject matter of public sector contracts for works, goods and services.
	The advice that the Department received on this matter was a combination of guidance published by the European Commission, guidance published by the Office of Government Commerce and communications between Government officials. The published guidance documents were: the Commission's Interpretative Communication on the possibilities of integrating social issues into public procurement under Community law-see http://simap.eu.int/EN/pub/src/welcome.htm and Chapter 9 of the "Joint Note on Environmental Issues in Purchasing"-published by The Office of Government Commerce and Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in October 2003. The Office of Government Commerce have very recently published a Note on Social Issues in Purchasing to further clarify the position-see http://www.ogc.gov.uk/index.asp?docid=1004561
	The Government will not provide the information requested because we consider the public interest is best served by not disclosing the internal legal advice held by DEFRA. Decisions by Government must be taken in a fully informed legal context, which includes assessing the perceived weakness of its position. It follows that the disclosure of internal communications between Government officials could prejudice the government's ability to defend its legal interests-both directly by unfairly exposing its legal position to challenge and indirectly by diminishing the reliance it can place on the advice having been fully considered and presented without fear or favour.

Timber

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if the Government will set a target for all Departments and other Government bodies to purchase only sustainable timber within five years.

Elliot Morley: The Environmental Audit Committee's Second Report of Session 2004–2005 on Sustainable Timber, paragraph number 91, concluded that it is
	"vital for DEFRA to set a clear timetable for implementing a requirement for all departments and other government bodies, local and national, to purchase only sustainable timber. In our view five years would be a realistic deadline."
	I consider that it would be inappropriate for me to answer your question, which addresses exactly the same point made by the Committee, before the Government have formally responded to the Committee's Report.

Red Routes

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions his Department has had with (a) metropolitan local authorities and (b) passenger transport executives on the introduction of red route measures to principal transport corridors in cities and conurbations.

Karen Buck: The only PTE to develop and implement proposals for red routes is Centro, in the West Midlands. Centro are currently implementing a package of measures in Birmingham, Solihull, Wolverhampton and Sandwell as part of a major scheme bid that was given full approval in 2004 by the Department at a cost of 328 million. This scheme is the first of five packages proposed to introduce a total of 130 km of red routes, bus relocations, side road entry treatments, new signs and junction improvements.
	The traffic signs required to implement a red route scheme are not prescribed and as such need special authorisation by the Secretary of State. It is not unusual for local authorities contemplating the use of non prescribed signs to contact the Department, but we do not keep records of informal inquiries.

After-school Activities

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she has taken to encourage young people in Swindon to get involved in (a) after-school activities and (b) sports programmes.

Maria Eagle: We have set out a core offer of extended services and activities that we want all children to be able to access through schools by 2010. This includes a varied menu of study support activities, including sport—at least two hours a week beyond the school day for those who want it. It is for individual local authorities (LAs) and schools to determine what provision best meets the needs of the young people in their area.
	Funding for study support is available to all schools and LAs through their base budgets, and also via the School Development Grant which, for Swindon, amounts to £1,366,981 in 2005–06. Funding (approximately £100,000 pa) is also provided for the well established "Playing for Success" Centre at Swindon Town FC, which benefits more than 350 pupils each year.
	We have also committed considerable additional funding to support schools in setting up and embedding extended services and activities. A total of £2,050,321 has been allocated to Swindon over three years from 2005–06.

Child Care Provision

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many child care places (a) for under fives and (b) in total there were in each year since 1980, broken down by type.

Beverley Hughes: This information was not collected for the period prior to 1989–90.
	Details of the number of child care places available in England for each year between 1990 and 2005 are given in the table.
	(a) Figures from Day Care Facilities Surveys (DCFS), 1990–97
	
		
			  Total number of child care places (a + b + c) Childminders (a) Full Daycare (b) Out of School/ Holiday Clubs (c) Sessional care (d) 
		
		
			 1989–90 303,100 205,600 97,500 No figures 416,400 
			 1990–91 339,400 233,300 106,100 No figures 428,400 
			 1991–92 390,900 254,300 116,800 19,800 414,500 
			 1992–93 469,533 300,700 133,800 35,033 396,900 
			 1993–94 549,300 357,500 147,600 44,200 411,300 
			 1994–95 614,000 373,600 161,500 78,900 410,600 
			 1995–96 646,467 376,200 178,300 91,967 397,700 
			 1996–97 654,900 365,200 193,800 95,900 383,700 
		
	
	(b) Using data from
	i. 1997–2003: "Ofsted registered" equivalent statistics generated by DfES from local authority returns; and,
	ii. 2003-present: Ofsted registrations
	
		
			  Total child care places (a + b + c) Childminders (a) Full Daycare (b) Out of School/ Holiday Clubs (c) Sessional care (d) 
		
		
			 1996–97 637,730 309,973 283,975 43,782 — 
			 1997–98 643,736 309,918 283,823 48,995 — 
			 1998–99 688,412 309,423 299,078 79,911 — 
			 1999–00 746,719 304,926 316,021 125,772 — 
			 2000–01 821,537 300,263 337,004 184,270 — 
			 2001–02 892,726 307,485 358,371 226,870 — 
			 2002–03 967,821 300,883 381,550 285,388 280,779 
			 2003–04 1,102,686 319,689 456,298 326,699 274,135 
			 2004–05 1,175,275 316,089 517,975 341,211 249,647 
		
	
	We do not have a breakdown of age groups for childminder, out of school or sessional places. The overwhelming majority of Full Daycare places are for children under the age of 5.

Child Employment

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the recommendations of the Better Regulation Task Force on employment law relating to children; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what plans she has to implement the recommendations of the Better Regulation Task Force on employment law relating to children;
	(3)  what discussions she has held with the Department for Trade and Industry on (a) regulations for the time at which children can start work in the morning and (b) the impact of earlier school day starts;
	(4)  if she will seek to amend legislation to enable children to start work at 6.30 a.m. in response to the earlier start of the school day in some areas.

Maria Eagle: holding answer 14 February 2006
	The Government believe that suitable work opportunities, based on individual choice, can be beneficial for young people. Nevertheless, children's entitlement to education is paramount. The existing limits on children's working hours are framed to ensure that neither their readiness to learn when they arrive at school, nor their capacity to do school homework, nor their opportunity for necessary rest and leisure, is compromised by the demands of employment. There are no plans to change this, and no discussions with DTI on the issue have been held.
	Guidance has been given to local authorities that Directors of Children's Services should have functions relating to child employment as part of their remit, as recommended by the Task Force. No final decisions have been taken on whether and how the Task Force's other specific proposals will be implemented. They will only be implemented to the extent that they can demonstrate a clear contribution to the key outcomes which we want to see for all children, described in our Green Paper "Every Child Matters".

Connexions

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the Connexions Agency will assist 16-year-olds to apply for benefits to which they are entitled.

Maria Eagle: The role of Connexions includes ensuring that young people up to the age of 19 years are aware of and able to obtain the benefits to which they are entitled.
	The most recent guidance to Connexions services states:
	"The Connexions Service is required to provide young people with general information about Young Persons Bridging Allowance, Jobseekers Allowance, extended Child Benefit and other social security benefits. This includes giving details about how these allowances/benefits can be claimed and the rights and responsibilities associated with them.
	Connexions Services must have agreed arrangements in place to register young people for work or learning, and be able to confirm a young person's registration with Jobcentre Plus where required."

Education Finance

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her Department's estimate is of the total cost to public funds of putting a child through state schooling from the age of 5 to 16 years.

Jacqui Smith: The estimated average cost of educating a pupil from the age of 5 to 16 years is £45,000.
	Notes:
	1. The figure quoted is an estimate and has been rounded to the nearest £5,000.
	2. The cost of educating from age 5 to 16 has been calculated as follows. The per pupil funding figure for 5–10 year olds in England in 2005–06 is multiplied by 6 (for the 6 years of funding a child would receive between the age of 5 and 10) and the per pupil figure for 11–15 year olds is multiplied by 5. The two figures are then added.
	3. Figures in 2005–06 prices.
	4. Total funding also includes all revenue grants in DfES Departmental Expenditure Limits relevant to pupils aged 5–15 and exclude Education Maintenance Allowances (EMAs) and grants not allocated at LEA level.
	5. The pupil numbers used to convert £ million figures to £ per pupil are those underlying the EPS settlement calculations.

Special Needs

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidelines have been issued by her Department to local education authorities on the allocation of special needs funding.

Jacqui Smith: In May 2004 the Department published guidance to local authorities "The Management of SEN Expenditure", which can be viewed online at www.teachernet.gov.uk/senexpenditure. It includes information and recommendations on delegating SEN resources to mainstream schools and also on the monitoring and accountability arrangements that local authorities should put in place to ensure that pupils' needs are being met.

Special Needs

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the role of the Index of Multiple Deprivation in the establishment of guidelines for the allocation of special needs funding.

Jacqui Smith: Our funding guidance "The Management of SEN Expenditure", published in 2004, included advice to local authorities on developing a funding formula to support most pupils with additional and special educational needs. The guidance included information on the most commonly used indicators and the Index of Multiple Deprivation was suggested as an indicator of deprivation. Other commonly used indicators include prior attainment based upon end of key stage test data; a social need factor such as free school meals; a turbulence factor based on unplanned admissions and leavers; and the number of children for whom English is a second language.

Tidal Power

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment his Department has made of the potential of tidal power as an alternative to fossil fuels.

Malcolm Wicks: Tidal power can broadly be split into two categories: tidal-current—this extracts kinetic energy from fast moving tidal currents and tidal impoundment that generates in a similar way to a conventional dam.
	The UK Tidal Energy Programme 1 that ran between 1978–94 at a cost of £20 million estimated the total tidal (impoundment) resource to be approximately 50 TWh/y. The largest and most economically viable scheme, the Severn Barrage could contribute 17TWh/y or 5 per cent. of UK demand.
	The most recent study undertaken in 2004 2 estimated the tidal-current resource at approximately 16 TWh/y ( 4 per cent. of current UK supply).
	1 Energy Paper 57 HMSO 1989 (ISBN 0 11 412952 5)
	2 Binnie, Black and Veatch 2005 Phase II Report "UK, Europe and Global Tidal Stream Resource Assessment".

Grass-roots Sports Funding

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much each sports national governing body (NGB) has received from the community club development programme in each of the last three years; and how much NGBs have allocated to grass-roots sports development under the terms of the compact with her Department on income from broadcasting in each year.

Richard Caborn: Sixteen National Governing Bodies for Sport and the community sports clubs affiliated to them have received awards from the Community Club Development Fund in the period 2003 to date as follows:
	
		
			£ 
			 NGB Year 1 (2003–04) Year 2 (2004–05) Year 3 (to date) (2005–06) 
		
		
			 All England Netball Association 436,500 222,665 781,547 
			 Amateur Rowing Association 1,657,056 199,445 436,510 
			 Amateur Swimming Association 0 6,720 763,502 
			 Badminton England 134,227 666,644 448,389 
			 British Canoe Union 519,500 635,431 645,985 
			 British Cycling 588,136 216,389 598,630 
			 British Gymnastics Association 60,076 690,000 645,110 
			 British Judo Association 45,625 329,694 1,236,712 
			 England Basketball 205,809 110,000 597,442 
			 English Cricket Board 2,996,330 1,592,513 2,233,388 
			 England Hockey 185,000 248,800 623,308 
			 English Table Tennis Association 14,777 31,485 1,446,738 
			 Football Association 6,706,197 2,236,017 678,816 
			 Lawn Tennis Association 4,413,234 2,394,918 1,610,800 
			 Rugby Football League 38,188 260,591 994,598 
			 Rugby Football Union 7,442,027 1,772,009 1,141,316 
		
	
	The Voluntary Code relating to broadcasting rights and grass roots sport was established and is administered by Central Council of Physical Recreation (CCPR), which is independent of my Department. Signatories have undertaken to invest at least 5 per cent. of broadcasting income in the development of their sports in order to ensure that the next generation of competitors has the support and facilities necessary to succeed at the highest level. Comprehensive information on allocations under the Code is not held by the Department.

BBC Monitoring

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what funding BBC Monitoring has received from (a) his Department, (b) other Government Departments and (c) other sources in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: I have been asked to reply.
	BBC Monitoring has received the following funding in each of the last five years:
	
		
			  £000 
			  Financial year 
			 Source 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 FCO 7,596 6,602 6,813 7,072 7,072 
			 MOD 7,249 6,506 6,720 6,982 6,982 
			 BBC World Service 4,201 4,961 5,105 5,280 5,278 
			 Cabinet Office 454 2,546 2,623 2,719 2,719 
			 Other sources 2,265 3,657 3,486 3,632 3,293 
			 Total 21,765 24,272 24,747 25,685 25,345 
		
	
	In 2005, BBC Monitoring Stakeholders agreed a funding regime up to financial year2010–11 that provides BBC Monitoring with security and stability for the future.

BBC Monitoring

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what funding BBC Monitoring will receive in (a) 2005–06 and (b) 2006–07 from (i) his Department, (ii) other Government departments and (iii) other sources.

Ian Pearson: I have been asked to reply.
	BBC Monitoring funding in 2005–06 and 2006–07 is listed in the table. From 2006–07 onwards, all funding will be channelled through the Cabinet Office and held in a ring-fenced budget. "Other sources" includes commercial sales which are variable and therefore must be regarded as approximate. In the financial year 2005–06 BBC Monitoring will, in addition, draw down £1 million from the BBC Monitoring Reserve Fund.
	
		
			   £000 
			  Financial year 
			 Source 2005–06 2006–07 
		
		
			 FCO 5,072 — 
			 MOD 6,982 — 
			 BBC World Service 5,278 — 
			 Cabinet Office 3,719 24,600 
			 Other sources 3,192 3,338 
			 Total 24,244 27,938

Senior Officers

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) brigadiers and (b) generals were on the active list in the Army in each year since 1997; and what the total strength of the Army was in each year.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 13 February 2006
	The following table shows the General, Brigadier and total strengths of the Regular Army at the 1 April of each year since 1997, and the latest published data as at 1 December 2005.
	
		Regular Army trained and untrained strensths(13)
		
			 Date General (14)(15)(16) Brigadier (16) Total strength (16) 
		
		
			 April-1997 60 170 109,800 
			 April-1998 60 180 109,830 
			 April-1999 60 180 109,720 
			 April-2000 60 180 110,050 
			 April-2001 60 190 109,530 
			 April-2002 50 180 110,050 
			 April-2003 60 180 112,130 
			 April-2004 60 180 112,750 
			 April-2005 60 180 109,290 
			 December 2005 60 180 107,930 
		
	
	(13) Figures are for the Regular Army and therefore exclude full-time reserve service, Gurkhas, the Home Service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment and Mobilised Reservists. It includes trained and untrained personnel.
	(14) Includes officers who have held the appointment of chief of general staff and are retained on the active list.
	(15) Figures for Generals include Generals, Lieutenant Generals and Major Generals.
	(16) Figures rounded to the nearest 10.
	The "Rank Structure of the UK Regular Forces" is published quarterly as a national statistic in the Defence Analytical Services Agency's "Tri-Service Publication 9" (TSP 9). This is available publicly on the internet at: www.dasa.mod.uk.

Ethiopia

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the defence attaché in Addis Ababa last visited the ex-Somaliland Scouts Association.

Ian Pearson: The defence attaché from Addis Ababa visited the Somaliland Scouts Association in Hargeisa on 28 April and 14 September 2005. The principal purpose of the first visit was to discuss the ex-Scouts' welfare. In this context he explained that the UK Government had made provision for their pensions at independence and therefore has no residual responsibility. He also discussed ways in which the defence section in Addis Ababa could assist with communications to the relevant UK charities to address demonstrable cases of hardship and followed this up on his second visit.

Business Investment

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the (a) level of inward investment and (b) number of new start up businesses in Northern Ireland was in each year since 2000, broken down by council area.

Angela Smith: Table (a) as follows provides the level of inward investment associated with assisted projects for each of the financial years 2000–01 to 2004–05, analysed by district council area.
	
		Table (a)(17): Total planned investment £ million
		
			 District council 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 Grand total 
		
		
			 Antrim — 24.8 0.5 — 16.4 41.8 
			 Ards 2.1 — 2.8 0.0 0.1 5.0 
			 Armagh — — 0.4 — — 0.4 
			 Ballymena 2.5 10.0 — 14.4 — 26.9 
			 Banbridge — — — — 2.9 2.9 
			 Belfast 43.9 25.6 7.0 98.8 66.2 241.5 
			 Carrickfergus 35.1 6.9 5.4 — — 47.4 
			 Castlereagh — 22.5 — — 1.8 24.3 
			 Coleraine — — — — 0.0 0.0 
			 Cookstown — — 1.4 — 22.6 24.0 
			 Craigavon 1.5 16.3 37.9 12.8 33.1 101.6 
			 Derry 9.3 13.5 92.0 11.7 37.1 163.7 
			 Down — 3.4 — — — 3.4 
			 Dungannon 0.7 11.8 — 0.1 4.2 16.8 
			 Fermanagh — 0.6 7.9 3.9 0.0 12.4 
			 Larne — — — 0.9 8.0 8.9 
			 Limavady 34.0 — — 1.1 — 35.1 
			 Lisburn — 17.5 — — 1.1 18.5 
			 Magherafelt — — — 0.0 0.0 0.0 
			 Moyle — — — — 6.5 6.5 
			 Newry and Mourne 5.0 9.0 0.6 — — 14.5 
			 Newtownabbey 129.3 41.5 — 0.0 0.0 170.9 
			 North Down — 0.3 1.6 1.2 5.3 8.4 
			 Omagh — 27.7 — — — 27.7 
			 Strabane 1.3 — 9.3 4.4 4.4 19.4 
			 Grand total (18)264.7 (18)231.4 (18)166.7 (18)149.4 (18)209.7 (18)1,021.8 
		
	
	(17) Planned investment (£ million) by assisted inward investment projects 2000–01 to 2004–05.
	2 Some differences between table totals may arise due to rounding.
	Table (b) as follows presents the number of assisted business starts during the same time period.
	
		Table (b)(18)
		
			 District council 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 Grand total 
		
		
			 Antrim 17 25 47 51 83 223 
			 Ards 57 65 95 152 155 524 
			 Armagh 59 50 85 112 129 435 
			 Ballymena 47 49 64 59 99 318 
			 Ballymoney 15 19 39 38 64 175 
			 Banbridge 44 54 67 81 105 351 
			 Belfast 95 118 211 319 429 1,172 
			 Carrickfergus 11 22 41 52 86 212 
			 Castlereagh 22 33 48 71 103 277 
			 Coleraine 42 26 63 71 124 326 
			 Cookstown 57 47 62 75 104 345 
			 Craigavon 81 67 93 136 196 572 
			 Derry 119 102 140 212 360 933 
			 Down 83 92 96 157 233 661 
			 Dungannon 34 57 80 116 151 438 
			 Fermanagh 104 80 93 148 227 652 
			 Larne 26 23 56 61 88 254 
			 Limavady 37 28 46 66 112 289 
			 Lisburn 47 62 154 126 164 553 
			 Magherafelt 59 64 102 109 131 465 
			 Moyle 8 9 15 17 41 90 
			 Newry and Mourne 153 132 162 145 274 866 
			 Newtownabbey 29 33 83 143 139 427 
			 North Down 60 92 82 127 137 498 
			 Omagh 43 45 65 75 104 332 
			 Strabane 25 40 43 62 83 253 
			 Grand total 1,374 1,434 2,132 2,781 3,921 11,642 
		
	
	(18) Number of assisted start-ups by district council area 2000–01 to 2004–05

Children (Behavioural Problems)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children were referred to NHS services with behavioural problems in 2004–05, broken down by local education authority.

Liam Byrne: Information is not collected in the format requested. An Office for National Statistics survey, "Mental Health of Children and Young People, 2004" (September 2005) found that 6 per cent., of children aged five to 6 had a conduct disorder.

Colon Cancer

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of (a) the number and (b) the proportion of the population of England aged over 50 who have been screened for cancer of the colon; what plans she has (i) to promote and (ii) to extend such screening; and what estimate she has made of the proportion of the population likely to be screened in the future.

Rosie Winterton: Screening for bowel cancer in England is currently only available as part of the English bowel cancer screening pilot in Coventry and Warwickshire. The pilot began in 2000, and is now into its third round of screening. People aged 58 to 69 are sent a kit called a faecal occult blood (FOB) test, which looks for hidden blood in the stools, an indicator that bowel cancer may be present. People are invited every two years, and complete the kit in their own homes before returning it to the laboratory where the results are interpreted.
	Around two percent., of people who take the FOB test will be positive, and they are invited for a full bowel investigation called a colonoscopy.
	In 2004–05, 31,074 people were screened at a cost of around £800,000. Research and an independent evaluation of the pilot have shown that around 60 percent., of the population take up their invitations to participate in bowel cancer screening.
	The Government have stated its commitment to a national bowel cancer screening programme. On 30 January 2006, the new Health White Paper, "Our health, our care, our say: a new direction for community services" reaffirmed that the programme will be rolled out from April 2006. Departmental budgets for 2006–07 are currently being finalised, and announcements will be made in due course.

Maternity Services

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many midwifery assistants have been employed by Southport and Ormskirk NHS Trust in each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: The table shows the number of unqualified maternity nursing staff employed by Southport and Ormskirk Hospital National Health Service Trust.
	
		NHS hospital and community health services: unqualified maternity nursing staff employed by Southport and Ormskirk NHS Trust as at 30 September each specified year Headcount
		
			  2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 Unqualified nurses 33 39 33 30 14 
			 Nursery nurse (19)— 1 (19)— (19)— (19)— 
			 Nursing assistant/auxiliary 33 38 33 30 14 
		
	
	(19) zero
	Source:
	NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre Non-Medical Workforce Census.

Criminal Justice System (Ethnic Monitoring)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the level of ethnic monitoring at all stages of the criminal justice system; and how it has changed since 1997.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Government recognises the importance of ethnic monitoring in the criminal justice system and the necessity of continuing to improve this in order to ensure that the criminal justice system is fair and non-discriminatory.
	Ethnic monitoring based upon visual perception began to be introduced in the criminal justice system in the 1980s. Since one April 2003 agencies have in addition introduced the recording of ethnicity based on self-classification using the 16 categories used in the 2001 census. The aim is to continue to work with agencies on implementing fully the 2001 categories across the criminal justice system over the next few years. The results from this monitoring are annually published by the Home Office in the report "Statistics on Race and the Criminal Justice System". Up until 1997 the published data covered racist incidents, homicides, stop and searches, cautioning, persons under the supervision of the probation service or in prison as well as the ethnicity of criminal justice practitioners. Since 1997 the extent of the data published has expanded and now also includes arrests, court proceedings, police complaints and youth offending.

Drugs

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of how many users of class A drugs there were in the UK in each year from 1998 to 2005.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 30 January 2006
	Estimates of the number of users of class A drugs in each year in the period 1998 to 2005 are presented in the following table.
	
		Number of 16 to 59-year-old users of class A drugs in England and Wales in the year before interview from the British Crime Survey
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1998 (19)809,000 
			 2000 1,001,000 
			 2001–02 996,000 
			 2002–03 1,028,000 
			 2003–04 1,091,000 
			 2004–05 1,012,000 
		
	
	(19) These point estimates are based on survey data and are therefore subject to sampling error and have associated confidence intervals.

Drugs

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of users of class A drugs aged under 25 years in each of the last five years; how many (a) residential and (b) non-residential drug treatment places were available in each year; and what estimate he has made of the (i) street price and (ii) volume of circulation of (A) cocaine, (B) crack cocaine and (C) heroin in each year.

Paul Goggins: The available information is given as follows.
	Estimates of the number of users of class A drugs, aged 16–24, in each year in the period 2000 to 2005 are presented in table 1.
	The Department of Health does not centrally collate information on the number of drug treatment places available.
	Estimates of the street prices for cocaine, crack cocaine and heroin are shown in table 2. We do not have estimates of the volume of drugs in circulation on an annual basis. 
	
		Table 1: Estimated number of users of class A drugs aged 16 to 24 in England and Wales in the year before interview from the British Crime Survey
		
			  Number of users(20) 
		
		
			 2000 542,000 
			 2001–02 499,000 
			 2002–03 474,000 
			 2003–04 493,000 
			 2004–05 494,000 
		
	
	(20) These estimates are based on survey data and are therefore subject to sampling error and have associated confidence intervals.
	
		Table 2: UK average drug prices 2000–05 -- £
		
			  Cocaine (per gram) Crack (per 0.2 g rock) Heroin (per gram) 
		
		
			 December 2000 65 23 70 
			 December 2001 60 21 63 
			 December 2002 56 20 61 
			 December 2003 55 19 62 
			 December 2004 51 18 55 
			 April 2005 51 19 53

Home Detention Curfews

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders in Cambridgeshire were on home detention curfews (HDCs) in 2004–05; and what proportion of these offenders failed to complete the HDC period successfully.

Fiona Mactaggart: The information requested, as recorded on the Prison Service IT system, is provided in the following table.
	
		Number of persons released from prisons in Cambridgeshire(21) on home detention curfews (HDC) in 2004–05—and percentage of those offenders who failed to complete the HDC period.
		
			  Those released on HDC from Cambridgeshire prisons Recalls Percentage recalled 
			  2004 2005 Total 2004 2005 Total 2004 2005 Total 
		
		
			 Littlehey 45 26 71 5 2 7 11 7.7 9.9 
			 Whitemoor 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 
			 Peterborough 0 408 408 0 24 24 0 6.4 5.9 
			 All Cambridgeshire prisons 45 434 479 5 26 31 11 6 6.5 
		
	
	(21) The question has been answered to give the number of prisoners released from Cambridgeshire prisons; information on offenders from Cambridgeshire who have been released on HDC is not held centrally.

Juvenile Offenders

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes were committed by juvenile offenders in (a) Haltemprice and Howden, (b) the East Riding of Yorkshire and (c) the Humberside police authority area in each quarter since 2001; how many cautions were issued in relation to such cases; and how many children in the East Riding of Yorkshire (i) were convicted, (ii) were in local authority care, (iii) received a reprimand, (iv) received a final warning and (v) were found guilty in each year since 2001.

Fiona Mactaggart: Data held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform on the number of juvenile offenders reprimanded, given final warnings, prosecuted, and found guilty of all offences in Humberside police force area, is provided in the following table. Figures are presented for the years 2001–04. It is not possible to separately identify (a) Haltemprice and Howden, and (b) East Riding of Yorkshire as the data is not collected at this level of detail.
	Data on children looked after is collected by the DfES. Figures for the East Riding of Yorkshire for the years 2001–04 are available on the DFES website at www.dfes.gov.uk.
	
		Number of juvenile offenders (aged 10 to 17) reprimanded and given final warnings(22), prosecuted(23), and found guilty(24) of all offences in Humberside police force area 2001–04(25)
		
			  Reprimand(22) Final Warning(22) Prosecuted(23) Found guilty(25) 
		
		
			 Year/Quarter 
			 2001 1,116 589 2,344 1,718 
			 Q1 354 191 714 535 
			 Q2 329 195 432 324 
			 Q3 247 129 658 477 
			 Q4 186 74 540 382 
			  
			 2002 657 375 2,499 1,668 
			 Q1 183 113 655 443 
			 Q2 150 81 561 390 
			 Q3 137 69 661 438 
			 Q4 187 112 622 397 
			  
			 2003 940 409 2,727 1,858 
			 Q1 167 82 690 430 
			 Q2 143 77 687 454 
			 Q3 320 140 683 478 
			 Q4 310 110 667 496 
			  
			 2004 1,425 571 2,796 2,186 
			 Q1 350 140 752 566 
			 Q2 345 138 715 561 
			 Q3 396 184 693 549 
			 Q4 334 109 636 510 
		
	
	(22) Under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 cautions were replaced for juvenileswith reprimands and final warnings.
	(23) Prosecuted at magistrates courts.
	(24) Found guilty at all courts.
	(25) All data given refer to the principal offence only.

National Offender Management Service

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how local delivery in the unitary authority area of Wales will be managed under the National Offender Management Service if the current probation boards are abolished.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 8 February 2006
	In the consultation document "Restructuring Probation to Reduce Re-offending", published on 20 October 2005, the Government set out its proposals for the future of the probation service in England and Wales. Further announcements on these proposals will be made in due course. Until the future structure of policing in Wales has been decided, it is not possible to be clear about the implications for the probation service.

National Offender Management Service

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what areas he expects the National Offender Management Service in Wales to prioritise within the diversity portfolio of issues in addition to those relating to the Welsh language and disability.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Director for the Offender Management Service in Wales is responsible for ensuring that there is full commitment to all aspects of diversity in developing and providing services to offenders.
	The core principles surrounding this commitment include: recognising and valuing the uniqueness of each individual; embracing "difference" and treating every-one with dignity and respect; providing fair, accessible, inclusive, appropriate and effective provision that demonstrates a fair service to all; ensuring that no service is disproportionate or unwittingly influenced because of ethnicity, gender, class, religion, culture, age, sexuality or disability; meeting all legislative responsibilities under the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, the Welsh Language Act 1993, the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000, the Religion and Beliefs Act 2003, and the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) (Amendment) Regulations 2003.
	Joining Together in Wales—an Adult and Young People's Strategy to Reduce Re-offending—forms the basis of a consultation to develop a reducing re-offending action plan for Wales. The outcome of the consultation and the subsequent development of the action plan will also help inform the best way to meet diversity issues in Wales.

Police/Community Support Officers

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average salary of (a) a newly-trained police constable and (b) a community support officer was in each police force on the most recent date for which figures are available.

Charles Clarke: The information is as follows:
	(a) The table shows the salary of a police constable on completion of initial training and the relevant regional allowance. The pay scales for police constables range from £20,397 for a newly recruited officer, rising to £32,025 for an officer with 10 year's service. Additionally, a constable who has served at the top of the pay scale for one year has access to a competence-related threshold payment of £1,062 per year.
	(b) Salary and other terms and conditions for police community support officers (PCSOs) are determined by the respective police authority. We do not routinely maintain data on PCSO salaries. The most recent data we have on PCSO salary costs and allowances is contained in a report by Accenture on terms and conditions for PCSOs, which was published on three February. The report provides a range of data on basic pay rates and allowances paid to PCSOs and an analysis of the variations between forces. The report found that the typical average salary for PCSOs was £17,269 and the average total cash reward (basic salary plus allowances and overtime) was £20,526. The report is available on the Home Office website:
	http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/community-policing/community-support-officers
	
		Police salaries
		
			 Forces Basic pay(£) Allowances (£) 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 22,770 — 
			 Bedfordshire 22,770 1,000 
			 Cambridgeshire 22,770 — 
			 Cheshire 22,770 — 
			 City of London 24,765 4,338 
			 Cleveland 22,770 — 
			 Cumbria 22,770 — 
			 Derbyshire 22,770 — 
			 Devon and Cornwall 22,770 — 
			 Dorset 22,770 — 
			 Durham 22,770 — 
			 Dyfed-Powys 22,770 — 
			 Essex 22,770 2,000 
			 Gloucestershire 22,770 — 
			 Greater Manchester 22,770 — 
			 Gwent 22,770 — 
			 Hampshire 22,770 1,000 
			 Hertfordshire 22,770 2,000 
			 Humberside(26)(27) 22,770 — 
			 Kent(26)(27) 22,770 2,000 
			 Lancashire 22,770 — 
			 Leicestershire 22,770 — 
			 Lincolnshire 22,770 — 
			 Merseyside 22,770 — 
			 Metropolitan 24,765 4,338 
			 Norfolk 22,770 — 
			 Northamptonshire 22,770 — 
			 Northumbria 22,770 — 
			 North Wales 22,770 — 
			 North Yorkshire 22,770 — 
			 Nottinghamshire 22,770 — 
			 South Wales 22,770 — 
			 South Yorkshire 22,770 — 
			 Staffordshire 22,770 — 
			 Suffolk 22,770 — 
			 Surrey 22,770 2,000 
			 Sussex 22,770 1,000 
			 Thames Valley 22,770 2,000 
			 Warwickshire 22,770 — 
			 West Mercia 22,770 — 
			 West Midlands 22,770 — 
			 West Yorkshire 22,770 — 
			 Wiltshire 22,770 — 
		
	
	(26)Shift allowance is included in basic salary.
	(27)This figure is when the higher of one of two Kent location allowances is paid, the salary plus allowance figure when the lower location allowance is paid is £165 less.

Prisoners

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the shortest amount of time served by a prisoner sentenced to life imprisonment before being released on licence was in each year between 1987 and 1999.

Fiona Mactaggart: The information requested, as recorded on the Prison Service IT system, is provided in the following table.
	
		Shortest time served(33) by a prisoner sentenced to life before they were released on licence, by:
		
			 Year of release Shortest time served (years)(34) 
		
		
			 1987(35) — 
			 1988(35) — 
			 1989 5.2 
			 1990 6.9 
			 1991 5.1 
			 1992 3.8 
			 1993 3.5 
			 1994 4.9 
			 1995 7.1 
			 1996 5.2 
			 1997 4.8 
			 1998 6.8 
			 1999 2.0 
		
	
	(33) Calculated using the centralised prisons IT system.
	(34) Time served under sentence
	(35) No data available for these years.

Prisons

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many investigations for alleged misconduct have been conducted into (a) prison governors and (b) prison officers at each establishment in each of the last five years; what proportion of these investigations led to (i) no action being taken, (ii) revised guidance, (iii) informal disciplinary action and (iv) formal disciplinary action; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: Data on investigations is not collated by grade and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. There have been 7,486 formal investigations between July 2000 and 1 February 2006. Table A details the number of investigations held in prisons, area offices and Prison Service headquarters. Table B details the outcome of the investigations completed in the period July 2000 and 1 February 2006.
	
		Table A: Investigations held in prisons, area offices and Prison Service headquarters in England and Wales between July 2000 and 1 February 2006
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Acklington 57 
			 Albany 29 
			 Altcourse(36) 9 
			 Ashfield(36) 7 
			 Ashwell 20 
			 Askham Grange 8 
			 Aylesbury 55 
			 Bedford 59 
			 Belmarsh 113 
			 Birmingham 155 
			 Blakenhurst 117 
			 Blantyre House 18 
			 Blundeston 29 
			 Brinsford 45 
			 Bristol 71 
			 Brixton 218 
			 Brockhill 43 
			 Buckley Hall 38 
			 Bullingdon 94 
			 Bullwood Hall 36 
			 Camp Hill 31 
			 Canterbury 70 
			 Cardiff 94 
			 Castington 53 
			 Channings Wood 13 
			 Chelmsford 47 
			 Coldingley 51 
			 Cookham Wood 20 
			 Dartmoor 61 
			 Deerbolt 48 
			 Doncaster(36) 11 
			 Dorchester 23 
			 Dovegate(36) 7 
			 Dover 32 
			 Downview 32 
			 Drake Hall 24 
			 Durham 95 
			 Eastern Area Office 2 
			 East Sutton Park 13 
			 Eastwood Park 54 
			 Edmunds Hill 32 
			 Elmley 132 
			 Erlestoke 44 
			 Everthorpe 19 
			 Exeter 27 
			 Featherstone 34 
			 Feltham 227 
			 Ford 42 
			 Forrest Bank(36) 9 
			 Foston Hall 28 
			 Frankland 60 
			 Full Sutton 82 
			 Garth 28 
			 Gartree 27 
			 Glen Parva 34 
			 Gloucester 45 
			 Grendon 40 
			 Guys Marsh 46 
			 Haslar 26 
			 Haverigg 41 
			 Hewell Grange 2 
			 High Down 167 
			 Highpoint 30 
			 High Security Area Office 1 
			 Hindley 102 
			 Hollesley Bay 9 
			 Holloway 174 
			 Holme House 62 
			 Headquarters 126 
			 Hull 74 
			 Huntercombe 36 
			 Kent Area Office 4 
			 Kingston 19 
			 Kirkham 19 
			 Kirklevington Grange 11 
			 Lancaster Castle 35 
			 Lancaster Farms 50 
			 Latchmere House 21 
			 Leeds 72 
			 Leicester 42 
			 Lewes 105 
			 Leyhill 19 
			 Lincoln 43 
			 Lindholme 20 
			 Littlehey 55 
			 Liverpool 151 
			 London Area Office 5 
			 Long Lartin 45 
			 Low Newton 15 
			 Lowdham Grange(36) 2 
			 Maidstone 79 
			 Manchester 133 
			 Moorland Open 10 
			 Moorland Closed 5 
			 Morton Hall 34 
			 New Hall 58 
			 North Sea Camp 20 
			 Northallerton 23 
			 North West 2 
			 Norwich 54 
			 Nottingham 47 
			 Onley 76 
			 Parc(36) 37 
			 Parkhurst 44 
			 Pentonville 233 
			 Portland 44 
			 Preston 100 
			 Ranby 46 
			 Reading 27 
			 Risley 156 
			 Rochester 73 
			 Rye Hill(36) 11 
			 Send 40 
			 Shepton Mallet 21 
			 Shrewsbury 31 
			 South West Area Office 1 
			 Stafford 82 
			 Standford Hill 30 
			 Stocken 21 
			 Stoke Heath 76 
			 Styal 33 
			 Sudbury 16 
			 Surrey and Sussex Area Office 3 
			 Swaleside 131 
			 Swansea 30 
			 Swinfen Hall 39 
			 Thames Valley, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Area Office 3 
			 The Mount 88 
			 The Verne 49 
			 The Weare 41 
			 Thorne Cross 45 
			 Usk and Prescoed 8 
			 Wakefield 82 
			 Wandsworth 149 
			 Warren Hill 5 
			 Wayland 29 
			 Wealstun 49 
			 Wellingborough 33 
			 Werrington 33 
			 Weatherby 17 
			 West Midlands Area Office 1 
			 Whatton 11 
			 Whitemoor 98 
			 Winchester 70 
			 Wolds(36) 2 
			 Woodhill 64 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 176 
			 Wymott 43 
		
	
	(36) Indicates contracted prisons.
	Note:
	Some of the units at headquarters have since transferred from the Prison Service to the National Offender Management Service.
	
		Table B: The result of investigations held in prisons, area offices and Prison Service headquarters in England and Wales between July 2000 and 1 February 2006
		
			 Award Total 
		
		
			 Investigation Closed/Stopped 43 
			 Individual medically retired 15 
			 No disciplinary action recommended 3,960 
			 Recommendation of disciplinary action not accepted by Commissioning Authority 392 
			 Awaiting outcome of investigation/disciplinary hearing 232 
			 Individual resigned during the investigation 339 
			 Individual retired during the investigation 25 
			 Death in custody (no staff disciplinary element) 70 
			 Case dismissed 188 
			 Final written warning 196 
			 Financial penalty 21 
			 Formal advice and guidance 416 
			 Informal advice and guidance 192 
			 Oral warning 203 
			 Outcome withheld from database due to sensitivity 1 
			 Re-graded 38 
			 Removed from the field of promotion 78 
			 Dismissed 365 
			 Written warning 786 
			 Total 7,560 
		
	
	Note:
	The total number of investigations does not match the total number of investigation outcomes as an investigation can refer to more than one individual and an individual may receive more than one disciplinary award.

Prisons

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which prisons offer anger management courses; and how many offer psychiatric support.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Prison Service delivers a controlling anger and learning to manage it course (CALM) this is an accredited offending behaviour programme and is run in the 24 prisons listed in the table. Additionally, there are a number of prisons offering local non-accredited work on issues relating to anger management.
	There are mental health in-reach teams in 102 prisons this will soon be available across the prison estate.
	
		Prisons delivering CALM
		
			 Establishment Prog Male/female Category Area 
		
		
			 Aylesbury CALM Male YOI (closed) Thames Valley, Hants, Isle of Wight 
			 Blundeston CALM Male C Eastern 
			 Bristol CALM Male Local South West 
			 Camp Hill CALM Male C Thames Valley, Hants, Isle of Wight 
			 Cardiff CALM Male Local B Wales 
			 Dartmoor CALM Male C South West 
			 Garth CALM Male B training North West 
			 Gartree CALM Male B East Midlands 
			 Glen Parva CALM Male YOI (closed) East Midlands 
			 Featherstone CALM Male C West Midlands 
			 Hindley CALM Male YOI (closed) North West 
			 Kingston CALM Male B Thames Valley, Hants, Isle of Wight 
			 Long Lartin CALM Male A High Security 
			 Moorland Closed CALM Male YOI (closed) Yorks and Humberside 
			 Parkhurst CALM Male B training Thames Valley, Hants, Isle of Wight 
			 Pentonville CALM Male Local London 
			 Risley CALM Male C North West 
			 Stocken CALM Male C East Midlands 
			 Swaleside CALM Male B training Kent 
			 Swinfen Hall CALM Male YOI (closed) West Midlands 
			 The Mount CALM Male C Eastern 
			 Whatton CALM Male C East Midlands 
			 Whitemoor CALM Male A High Security 
			 Wolds(37) CALM Male Local Contracted Out 
		
	
	(37) Contracted Prison

Traffic Offences

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) males and (b) females were (i) prosecuted and (ii) convicted in (A) Southend, (B) Essex, (C) the Metropolitan police area of London and (D) England and Wales of driving the wrong way down one-way streets in each of the last five years for which information is available.

Paul Goggins: The information requested has been taken from the court proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform and is contained in the table.
	
		Number of males and females proceeded against and found guilty at all courts for offences under S36(1) Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 1994 S.2(10) at South-east Essex petty sessional area (PSA), Essex and Metropolitan police force areas(PFA) and England and Wales, 2000–04 (38)
		
			 Offence description: Failing to comply with traffic light signals/signs—offences not detected by camera devices 
			 Principal statute: Road Traffic Act 1988 S.36 (1); Traffic Signs Regulations and General Regulations 1994 S.2(10) 
			 Area/Gender  2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 South East Essex PSA  
			 Males Proceeded against 5 1 3 3 2 
			  Found guilty 3 1 2 3 2 
			 Females Proceeded against 1 0 0 1 0 
			  Found guilty 1 0 0 1 0 
			 Essex PFA 2   
			 Males Proceeded against 115 81 39 n/a 17 
			  Found guilty 103 73 33 n/a 14 
			 Females Proceeded against 29 14 10 n/a 2 
			  Found guilty 27 14 9 n/a 0 
			 Metropolitan police force 3 
			 Males Proceeded against 1,503 1,161 1,311 1,441 1,811 
			  Found guilty 1,285 992 1,112 1,214 1,475 
			 Females Proceeded against 203 156 149 172 281 
			  Found guilty 187 135 133 152 249 
			 England and Wales  
			 Males Proceeded against 9,306 7,682 7,252 7,724 6,768 
			  Found guilty 8,247 6,735 6,462 6,791 5,827 
			 Females Proceeded against 1,525 1,246 1,228 1,408 1,122 
			  Found guilty 1,401 1,147 1,136 1,278 1,008 
		
	
	n/a—not available
	(38) These data are provided on the principal offence basis
	(2) Data for Essex PFA for 2003 has not been provided as inconsistent with previous years
	(3) Includes City of London

Work Permits

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many work permit holders were granted permanent settlement in the UK in each of the last five years.

Tony McNulty: The latest published information on work permit holders granted permanent settlement in the UK in each of the last five years is shown in the annual Command Paper "Control of Immigration: Statistics, United Kingdom, 2004". Copies are available from the Library of the House and on the stationery office website: http://www.official- documents.co.uk/document/cm66/6690/6690.asp.

Allotment Land

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the applications he has received in the last 12 months for the de-registration of allotment land; and if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on such applications.

Yvette Cooper: Under Section 8 of the Allotments Act 1925 the Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister's consent is required for the disposal of statutory allotments. 45 applications were received for disposal in the period from January 2005 to January 2006, which are set out in the table, of which six were granted approval for disposal.
	In determining such applications the following criteria are applied:
	Consent for disposal cannot be given unless certain criteria are met. The criteria are that:
	The allotment in question is not necessary and is surplus to requirements;
	Adequate provision will be made for displaced plot holders, or that such provision is not necessary or is impracticable;
	The number of people on the waiting list has been effectively taken into account;
	The authority has actively promoted and publicised the availability of allotment sites and has consulted the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners;
	and,
	The implications of disposal for other relevant policies, in particular development plan policies, have been taken into account.
	
		List of applications for disposal consent received between January 2005 and January 2006 of allotment land
		
			Regional Office   Local Authority and name of siteApplication dateDecision dateNumber of plotsSize Replacement plots provided? If yes, how many?New use of land  Disposal application refused (x) 
		
		
			 GO-NE Brittons Fields Allotments, Barnard Castle, County Durham-Teesdale DC 14 December 2004 Case is still live 16 0.126 ha Council is considering a replacement allotment site. Number of plots unknown as yet Not known. I have requested more details  
			   
			 GO-NE Brittons Fields, Barnard Castle, Co. Durham (Barnard Castle Town Council) 14 December 2004 16 May 2005 16 0.1053 hectares 0 Housing and car parking  
			   
			 GO-EAST Terrington St. Clements pc Land at Terington St. Clements 17 December 2004 1 February 2005  5.2 acres No relocation Change of use to farming land  
			   
			 GO-EAST Breckland DC Plots 68–84 Shouldham Lane, Swaffham, Norfolk 1 April 2005 1 April 2005 16 plots 0.91 hectares All not used for use as grazing land  
			   
			 GO-EAST Chelmsford BC Melbourne allotments, Chelmsford 16 May 2005 20 June 2005 35 0.85 hectares Some of the allotment holders have been moved to new plots.   
			   
			 GO-EAST Broadland dc, Ramsey Road Allotments, Saint Ives 9 September 2005 9 November 2005  3.5 hectares  Change of use  
			   
			 GO-EAST Cambridge City Council, Land at Hulatt Way, Cambridge 16 February 2005 9 March 2005  0.1 hectares None Construction of 20 flats for elderly people n/a 
			   
			 GO-EAST Swaffham Town Council, Tumbler Hill, Norfolk 30 March 2005 5 May 2005 24 1.24 None To be used as a base for a charity who help people with learning difficulties develop independent living skills through gardening n/a 
			   
			 GO-EAST Balsham Parish Council, South Cambridgeshire DC 16 May 2005 5 December 2005  0.44 hectares allotment holders will be provided with cultivated allotments on the new site with hard standing for a shed The parish council are applying for permission to build 18 affordable houses in the village of Balsham Allowed 
			   
			 GO-EM Leicester City Council, (Land on the South Side of the Muston Garden Development), Washbrook Allotments, Welford Road, Leicester 19 January 2005 18 March 2005 1 0.0082ha No Land is required to amend boundary discrepancy with adjoining residential development No 
			   
			 GO-EM Leicester City Council, Wycombe Road Allotments, Wycombe Road, Leicester 12 May 2003 28 February 2005 87 2.606ha No The land is for residential development None 
			 GO-EM Broxtowe Borough Council, The Hassocks Beeston 25 February 2005 31 May 2005 62 1.6ha No The land will be used for a new fire station plus residential or industrial development No 
			 GO-EM Leicester City Council, Bonney Road Allotments , Bonney Road, Leicester 2 November 2004 31 May 2005 12 0.42ha No Open Space No 
			 GO-EM Leicester City Council, Bonney Road Allotments, Bonney Road, Leicester 2 November 2004 31 May 2005 16 0.53ha No The land is for residential development No 
			 GO-EM Leicester City Council, Groby Road Allotments, Groby Road, Leicester 13 May 2005 31 May 2005 100 3.81ha No The land will be used for development and open space No 
			 GO-EM Leicester City Council, Braunstone close Allotments, Braunstone Close, Leicester 2 November 2004 31 May 2005 42 1.11ha No Open Space No 
			 GO-EM Heanor and Loscoe Town Council, Hands Road Allotment, Hand Road, Heanor, Derbys 12 September 2004 26 May 2005 8 0.227ha No The land will be used for residential development. No 
			 GO-WM Birmingham City Council, Yardley Green Allotments 28 June 2004 15 February 2005 131 5.08 hec No—but more revised plots made available Release of land at Yardley Green Allotments for development  
			 GOWM Walsall MBC, Herberts Park/Stanbury Avenue 14 October 2004 24 March 2005 unused land 0.28hec n/a Residential Development Statutory status being clarified 
			 GOWM Coventry City Council, Coundon Hall 19 October 2004 16 November 2004 133 3.4 hec n/a Community Woodland  
			 GOWM Rugby Borough Council, Addison Road 3 February 2005 14 April 2005 10 0.6 hec n/a Cemetery  
			 GOWM Malvern Hills District Council Elgar Avenue, Malvern 22 February 2005 15 July 2005 n/a n/a n/a n/a Refused 
			   
			 GOWM Herefordshire County District Council UA, Rockfield Allotment Site 22 February 2005 17 November 2005 n/a n/a n/a n/a  
			   
			 GOWM Redditch BC, Sillins Avenue and Farm Road, Redditch 8 March 2005 6 April 2005 n/a n/a n/a n/a Withdrawn 
			   
			 GOWM Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, Mill Gardens Allotments 12 May 2005 6 July 2005 n/a n/a n/a n/a Invalid 
			 GOWM Rugby Borough Council, Addison Road Allotments 31 May 2005 12 July 2005 None 0.1 hec n/a Access to new housing development  
			 GOWM Wolverhampton MBC, Parker Road 10 June 2005 4 July 2005 5 0.21 hec n/a Residential Development  
			 GOWM Walsall MBC, Berry / Bradshaw Allotments site 20 September 2005 24 October 2005 10 0.25 hec n/a Residential Development  
			 GOWM Wolverhampton MBC, Sandy Lane Allotments Site 21 September 2005 24 October 2005 Part of 1 1.43 hec n/a Road Widening  
			 GOWM Redditch Borough Council, 233 Bromsgrove Road 21 December 2005 Gardens  
			 GO-L LB Croydon, 166 Spa Hill 30 December 2004 23 March 2005  0.00188 ha  Sale Allowed 
			 GO-L LB Croydon, Midday sun allotments 29 November 2004 27 April 2005 Pending 1105sqm  Sale Allowed 
			 GO-L LB Harrow Land at Harrow Leisure Centre 12 September 2005 2 November 2005 n/k   Sale Allowed 
			 GO-L LB Harrow Kenmore Avenue 9 September 2005 02 November 2005Sale Allowed 
			 GO-L LB Bromley Southfield Allotment 21 January 2005 8 April 2005  0.4704 hectares  For use as open space Allowed 
			 GO-SE Newtown Allotments 2 November 2004 31 January 2005  
			 GO-SW Dorchester Town Council (West Dorset District) 2 December 2004 20 January 2005 11 2.023 sq metres 0 for council depot None 
			 GO-SW Bristol City Council, Marling Road, St George, Bristol 20 January 2005 11 February 2005 0 0.86 hectares 0 The land to be used as a riding school and stables None 
			 GO-SW Bristol City Council, Cotman Walk Allotments, Lockleaze, Bristol 23 February 2005 31 March 2005 0 0.638 hectares 0 doesn't say None 
			 GO-SW Bristol City Council, Stibbs Hill Allotments, St. George, Bristol 23 February 2005 31 March 2005 3 0.3571 hectares 1 plot of land offered on site 200m away doesn't say 1 plotholder 
			 GO-SW Bristol City Council, Goulston Road, Bishopsworth, Bristol 3 February 2004 25 April 2005 13(10 vacant remaining 3 plotholders will retain their plots) 2,958 sq yards None doesn't say None 
			   
			 GO-SW Bridgewater Town Council (Sedgemoor district), Bristol Road, No. 2 site, Bridgewater 20 April 2005 7 June 2005 None the site is vacant 0.78 hecta res None Lease to Bridgewater Carnival Committee None 
			 GO-SW Bristol City Council, Whitefield Road, Speedwell, Bristol 6 May 2005 21 June 2005 the site is vacant 0.126 hectares None doesn't say None 
			   
			 GO-SW Bristol City Council, Bedminster Down "C", Bedminster Down Road, Bristol 14 July 2005 1 September 2005 the site is vacant 0.0675 hectares None The land will be leased to the owners of the adjoining house None 
			   
			 GO-SW Henstridge Parish Council (South Somerset District) 28 June 2005 site is vacant 1.48 hectares None the land will be used as a play area (0.2ha) and leasing of the remainder (1.28) [holding answer] to a local farmer for grazing. None

Homelessness

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 5 July 2005, Official Report, column 307W, on homelessness, when he expects to publish the code of guidance.

Yvette Cooper: A revised "Homelessness Code of Guidance for Local Authorities" is due to be published in the next few months.

Supporting People

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will put mechanisms in place to ensure that the calculation of the needs-based formulae for supporting people grants will not include a ceiling; and that the implementation of the increase grant will take effect in full from April 2007.

Phil Woolas: Through "Creating Sustainable Communities: Supporting Independence", the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is currently consulting on whether, and if so how, to take forward any changes to the basis for allocating supporting people grants to local authorities. In parallel, the ODPM is also consulting on a technical model which provides one option for an alternative approach to allocations. Consultation on both runs until 28 February 2006, and decisions will be taken once we have had the opportunity to consider all representations received.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has, however, already announced guaranteed minimum supporting people grant allocations for 2007–08. These have been set on the basis of each authority receiving at least 95 per cent. of their grant for 2006–07. The ODPM will determine and confirm how to allocate the remainder of the funding following and in the light of the current consultation. However, the announcement of minimum allocations means that any change to the basis for grant distribution cannot be implemented in full from April 2007.

Tax Credits

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much in total has been overpaid in tax credits since they were introduced.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 13 February 2006
	Estimates for 2003–04 of the numbers of in-work families with tax credits awards, including information on overpayments and underpayments, based on final family circumstances and incomes for 2003–04 are published in "Child and Working Tax Credits. Finalised Awards. 2003–04." This publication and provisional estimates for the number of in-work families with tax credit awards as at selected dates in 2004–05 are available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-quarterly-stats.htm
	Estimates of numbers and values of overpayments or underpayments for 2004–05 awards at 5 April 2005 will be published in May 2006.

Benefits

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in the age bands (a) 18 to 25, (b) 25 to 40, (c) 40 to 55 and (d) 55 to 65 years were in receipt of (i) disability allowance, (ii) invalid care allowance, (iii) carers allowance, (iv) incapacity benefit and (v) other health-related benefit in (A) absolute numbers and (B) as a percentage of the total population of the Crosby constituency in each year between 2000 and 2005.

Anne McGuire: I have asked the chief executive of the Disability and Carers Service, Mr. Terry Moran to write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Terry Moran
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in the age bands (a) 18 to 25 (b) 25 to 40 (c) 40 to 55 and (d) 55 to 65 years were in receipt of (i) disability allowance (ii) invalid care allowance (iii) carers allowance (iv) incapacity benefit and (v) other health-related benefit in (A) absolute numbers and (B) as a percentage of the total population of the Crosby constituency in each of the years 2000 to 2005.
	The Minister for Disabled People, Anne McGuire MP, promised you a substantive reply from the Chief Executive of the Disability and Carers Service.
	The information available is in the attached annexes.
	I hope this is helpful.
	Annex 1
	Disability living allowance (DLA)
	
		Number of DLA claimants in the parliamentary constituency of Crosby, as at May of each year from 2000 to 2005 -- Thousands
		
			 Age of claimant 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 18–24 *0.1 *0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
			 25–39 *0.4 *0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 
			 40–54 0.7 0.7 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 
			 55–65 0.6 0.7 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.2 
			 All 1.8 2.0 2.5 2.6 2.6 2.6 
		
	
	
		Number of DLA claimants in the Government office region of the north west, as at May of each year from 2000 to 2005 -- Thousands
		
			 Age of claimant 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 18–24 9.4 10.5 11.0 12.0 12.9 13.6 
			 25–39 43.4 43.5 45.6 46.7 47.4 47.5 
			 40–54 85.3 88.7 89.7 92.5 94.8 96.0 
			 55–65 109.3 112.4 115.3 119.3 121.6 122.0 
			 All 247.4 255.2 261.6 270.5 276.7 279.2 
		
	
	
		DLA claimants in the Government office region of the north west, as at May of each year from 2000 to 2005, as percentage of the relevant population -- Percentage
		
			 Age of claimant 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 18–24 1.7 1.9 1.9 2.0 2.1 2.2 
			 25–39 3.0 3.0 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 
			 40–54 6.3 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 6.9 
			 55–65 13.9 14.1 13.9 14.0 14.0 14.0 
			 All 6.0 6.1 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Population estimates are not available at parliamentary constituency level. Figures and percentages at GOR level are provided instead.
	2. Totals show the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and excludes people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital.
	3. Parliamentary constituencies and GORs have been allocated using the ONS postcode directory.
	4. Percentages have been calculated using the relevant ONS mid year population estimates.
	5. Figures pre 2002 have been based on the 5 per cent. QSE data and are therefore subject to sampling variation. Those below 500 are subject to a high degree of sampling error and are marked '*'.
	Definitions and conventions: "-" Nil or Negligible; "." Not applicable; Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest hundred and expressed in thousands. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
	Source: DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study for totals and 5% samples for detail/long time series.
	Annexe 2
	Carer's allowance (CA) previously invalid care allowance (ICA)
	
		Number of CA claimants in the parliamentary constituency of Crosby, as at May(39) of each year from 2002 to 2005 -- Thousands
		
			 Age of claimant 2002 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 18–24 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
			 25–39 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
			 40–54 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 
			 55–65 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 
			 All 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.5 
		
	
	
		Number of CA claimants in the Government office region of the north west, as at May(40) of each year from 2002 to 2005 -- Thousands
		
			 Age of claimant 2002 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 18–24 2.4 2.6 2.7 2.8 
			 25–39 18.2 18.5 18.4 18.4 
			 40–54 23.9 24.6 24.7 25.4 
			 55–65 13.1 13.9 14.2 14.6 
			 All 57.6 59.5 60.1 61.1 
		
	
	
		Number of CA claimants in the Government office region of the north west, as at May(41)of each year from 2000 to 2005, as percentage of the relevant population -- Percentage
		
			 Age of claimant 2002 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 18–24 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 
			 25–39 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 
			 40–54 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 
			 55–65 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.7 
			 All 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 
		
	
	(39) 2002 figures as at June 2002.
	(40) 2002 figures as at June 2002.
	(41) 2002 figures as at June 2002.
	Notes:
	1. Population estimates are not available at parliamentary constituency level. Figures and percentages at GOR level are provided instead.
	2. The pre 2003 figures shown have been calculated using the information from the 'old' CA 100 per cent. data source. For carer's allowance the earliest WPLS dataset is August 2003.
	3. Only cases in payment are shown (those with underlying entitlement but not actually receiving payment have been excluded).
	4. Parliamentary constituencies and GORs have been allocated using the ONS postcode directory.
	5. Percentages have been calculated using the relevant ONS mid year population estimates.
	Definitions and conventions:"-" Nil or Negligible; "." Not applicable; Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest hundred and expressed in thousands. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
	Source: DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study for totals and 100 per cent. samples for detail.
	Annexe 3
	Incapacity benefit (IB)/ severe disablement allowance (SDA)
	
		IB/SDA claimants caseloads and percentage of the population, north west GOR and Crosby parliamentary constituency: May 2000 to 2005
		
			  May 2000 May 2001 May 2002 
			  Thousands Percentage(42) Thousands Percentage(42) Thousands Percentage(42) 
		
		
			 North West GOR  
			 All ages 448.0 6.6 454.2 6.7 449.6 6.7 
			 Unknown (42)— (42)— (42)— (42)— (42)— (42)— 
			 Under 18 1.9 (42)— 1.8 (42)— 1.6 (42)— 
			 18 to 24 23.8 0.4 24.6 0.4 24.3 0.4 
			 25 to 39 103.7 1.5 105.9 1.6 103.6 1.5 
			 40 to 54 169.0 2.5 173.2 2.6 170.2 2.5 
			 55 to 65 146.6 2.2 145.5 2.2 146.5 2.2 
			 66 and over 3.1 (42)— 3.2 (42)— 3.4 (42)— 
			
			 All ages 3.8 (43)— 3.7 (43)— 3.7 (43)— 
			 Under 18 (42)— (43)— (42)— (43)— (42)— (43)— 
			 18 to 24 0.1 (43)— 0.1 (43)— 0.1 (43)— 
			 25 to 39 0.8 (43)— 0.7 (43)— 0.7 (43)— 
			 40 to 54 1.4 (43)— 1.4 (43)— 1.4 (43)— 
			 55 to 65 1.4 (43)— 1.4 (43)— 1.4 (43)— 
			 66 and over (42)— (43)— (42)— (43)— (42)— (43)— 
		
	
	
		
			  May 2000 May 2001 May 2002 
			  Thousands Percentage1 Thousands Percentage1 Thousands Percentage1 
		
		
			 North West GOR  
			 All ages 447.5 6.6 442.1 6.5 432.4 6.3 
			 Unknown (44)— (44)— (44)— (44)— (44)— (44)— 
			 Under 18 1.5 (44)— 1.6 (44)— 1.2 (44)— 
			 18 to 24 25.1 0.4 24.7 0.4 23.1 0.3 
			 25 to 39 102.5 1.5 100.6 1.5 97.0 1.4 
			 40 to 54 169.5 2.5 168.2 2.5 166.5 2.4 
			 55 to 65 145.4 2.1 143.5 2.1 140.8 2.1 
			 66 & over 3.5 0.1 3.6 0.1 3.8 0.1 
			
			 Crosby Parliamentary Constituency 
			 All ages 3.7 (45)— 3.6 (45)— 3.5 (45)— 
			 Under 18 (44)— (45)— (44)— (45)— (44)— (45)— 
			 18 to 24 0.1 (45)— 0.2 (45)— 0.2 (45)— 
			 25 to 39 0.7 (45)— 0.7 (45)— 0.7 (45)— 
			 40 to 54 1.4 (45)— 1.4 (45)— 1.4 (45)— 
			 55 to 65 1.3 (45)— 1.3 (45)— 1.3 (45)— 
			 66 & over (44)— (45)— (44)— (45)— (44)— (45)— 
		
	
	(42) North west GOR total populations have been used to calculate percentages of the population. Crosby parliamentary constituency population figures are not available.
	(43) North west GOR total populations have been used to calculate percentages of the population. Crosby parliamentary constituency population figures are not available.
	(44) North west GOR total populations have been used to calculate percentages of the population. Crosby parliamentary constituency population figures are not available.
	(45) Denotes nil or negligible.
	(46) Denotes not applicable.
	Notes:
	1. Population estimates are not available at parliamentary constituency level. Figures and percentages at GOR level are provided instead.
	2. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest hundred and shown in thousands. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place
	3. 'Claimant' figures include all IB/SDA claimants (including IB credits only cases).
	4. There are a very small number of cases each year (less than 50) where the claimant age is unknown.
	Source:
	DWP Information Directorate, Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent. data. Office for National Statistics Mid-2000 to 2004 population data for Great Britain and North West GOR.
	Annexe 4
	Other health-related benefits
	
		People receiving industrial injuries disablement benefit (IIDB) in the parliamentary constituency of Crosby -- Thousands
		
			  As at 1 April As at 31 March(46) 
			 Age of claimant 2000(47) 2001(47) 2002 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 18–24 — — — — — — 
			 25–39 — — 20 20 15 15 
			 40–54 0.1 0.1 120 105 100 95 
			 55–65 0.1 0.1 120 125 120 130 
		
	
	
		People receiving IIDB by north west Government office region, numbers and as a -- percentage of relevant populationThousands
		
			 Age of As at 1 April As at 31 March(48) 
			 claimant 2002(49) Percentage 2001(49) Percentage 2002 Percentage 
		
		
			 18–24 0.2 0.04 0.2 0.04 150 0.03 
			 25–39 5.1 0.35 4.6 0.32 4,215 0.30 
			 40–54 12.9 0.95 12.8 0.94 11 ,830 0.87 
			 55–65 13.0 1.65 12.8 1.61 12,795 1.55 
		
	
	
		Thousands
		
			  As at 31 March(50) 
			  2003 Percentage 2004 Percentage 2005 Percentage 
		
		
			 18–24 130 0.02 110 0.02 85 0.01 
			 25–39 3,910 0.28 3,540 0.26 3,180 0.23 
			 40–54 11,590 0.84 11,255 0.81 11,055 0.80 
			 55–65 12,980 1.52 12,905 1.49 12,910 1.49 
		
	
	(47) Figures are from a 100 per cent. sample from the Industrial Injuries Computer System (IICS) and are rounded to the nearest 5.
	(48) Figures are from a 100 per cent. sample from the Industrial Injuries Computer System (IICS) and are rounded to the nearest 5.
	(49) Figures are from a 100 per cent. sample from the Industrial Injuries Computer System (IICS) and are rounded to the nearest 5.
	(50) Figures are from a 100 per cent. sample from the Industrial Injuries Computer System (IICS) and are rounded to the nearest 5.
	(51) Figures are from a 10 per cent. sample from clerical forms received from the Disablement Benefit Offices and are rounded to the nearest 100.
	Note:
	Population estimates are not available at parliamentary constituency level. Figures and percentages at GOR level are provided instead.
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics mid year population estimates

Departmental Expenditure

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the annual expenditure on vehicles by (a) his Department and (b) each (i) non-departmental public body, (ii) executive agency and (iii) other public body for which he is responsible in (A) Scotland, (B) Wales, (C) each of the English regions and (D) Northern Ireland was in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is for 2005–06.

James Plaskitt: The figures provided are for the department, all its agencies and non-departmental public bodies and cover vehicle purchase costs and car hire and associated running costs. The department does not collect centrally information in the agency or geographic format requested and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
	
		Departmental annual expenditure on vehicle purchaseand car hire (£)
		
			 Period Vehicle purchase Car hire 
		
		
			 2002–03 9,614,432 1,408,009 
			 2003–04 4,209,396 1,015,311 
			 2004–05 6,508,943 908,521 
			 2005–06(52) 4,000,000 600,000 
		
	
	(52) Anticipated

Departmental Staff

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans his Department has to change the London allowance of its staff; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: The Department for Work and Pensions no longer has separate "London allowances" for its staff. Instead the Department has four pay zones which all attract different rates of basic pay: inner London; outer London; specified location pay zones, which are a number of offices in the South East which have experienced recruitment difficulties in the past; and national, which covers the rest of the country. The difference between pay rates in the national zone and inner London differs for each pay scale, but is generally about £3,500.
	The pay scales are fixed until July 2007 as part of a three year pay deal agreed with the unions in 2004. The negotiations with the unions about the detail of pay 2007 will cover the full range of pay arrangements, including the approach to geographic pay.

Gas Safety

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many deaths occurred due to carbon monoxide poisoning in each of the last 10 years; and how many of these deaths involved (a) liquid petroleum gas, (b) fire and explosions, (c) exposure to unburnt gas from piped gas and (d) exposure to carbon dioxide from piped gas.

Anne McGuire: An analysis of gas-related incidents reported to the Health and Safety Executive in the last 10 years shows the following breakdown of fatalities from exposure to carbon monoxide (CO), fire and explosions, and other exposure (these are primarily from exposure to unburnt gas from piped gas):
	
		Number of gas-related fatalities by incident kind and year
		
			  Exposure to CO Fire and explosion 
			  Piped Gas LPG Piped Gas LPG Other exposure(53) Total 
		
		
			 1995–96 29 (54)— 6 (54)— — 35 
			 1996–97 29 2 9 — — 40 
			 1997–98 24 4 8 — — 36 
			 1998–99 29 8 8 3 — 48 
			 1999–00 18 8 10 — — 36 
			 2000–01 20 5 9 1 — 35 
			 2001–02 15 7 5 — — 27 
			 2002–03 17 3 4 1 — 25 
			 2003–04 8 3 5 — 2 18 
			 2004–05(55) 16 2 2 — 2 22 
			 Grand total 205 42 66 5 4 322 
		
	
	(53) Information on 'other exposures' was not collected prior to 2003–04.
	(54) In the case of exposure to CO and fire & explosion, these are separated into those from piped gas and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
	(55) The figures for 2004–05 are provisional.
	Notes:
	1. HSE does not collect information on exposure to carbon dioxide.
	2. Information on LPG was not collected separately prior to 1996–97.
	3. These figures may not correspond with official statistics because the analysis has been conducted using a different source.

Gas Safety

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many prosecutions there have been by the Health and Safety Executive of unregistered gas installers in each of the last 10 years; and how many of these were successful.

Anne McGuire: The number of prosecutions relating to unregistered gas installers is as follows:
	
		
			  Reg 3(3)(56) Reg 3(7)(57) Total 
			  Total number of prosecution actions taken Of which: Convictions Total number of prosecution actions taken Of which: Convictions Total number of prosecution actions taken Of which: Convictions 
		
		
			 1996–97 36 33 0 0 36 33 
			 1997–98 57 53 0 0 57 53 
			 1998–99 56 51 0 0 56 51 
			 1999–2000 50 39 3 0 53 39 
			 2000–01 23 22 8 8 31 30 
			 2001–02 27 17 4 0 31 17 
			 2002–03 34 32 12 11 46 43 
			 2003–04 20 18 7 7 27 25 
			 2004–05(58) 21 20 5 5 (59)26 (29) (59)25 (28) 
		
	
	(56) Regulation 3(3) requires installers to be a member of a class of persons approved by HSE (i.e. CORGI registered).
	(57) Regulation 3(7) prohibits anyone from falsely pretending to be a member of a class of persons (i.e. CORGI registered).
	(58) The information for 2004–05 is provisional.
	(59) In 2004–05, there were also three successful prosecutions under Reg 3 which have not been allocated to a sub-reg number. In summary 29 prosecutions were made, 28 of which were successful.
	Note:
	The question seeks information for each of the last 10 years. The table sets out data from 1996–97. Access to older data is not readily available and would require the restoration of archived databases.
	Source:
	Health and Safety Executive, Safety and Enforcement Statistics.

Gas Safety

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much funding has been spent by his Department on reducing rates of carbon monoxide poisoning in each of the past 10 years; and what steps the Government is taking (a) to promote gas safety awareness and (b) to prevent deaths by carbon monoxide poisoning.

Anne McGuire: The amount spent by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on campaigns to publicise the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in each of the past 10 years was as follows:
	
		
			  Amount (£) 
		
		
			 1995–96 (60)1,374,000 
			 1996–97 101,000 
			 1997–98 695,000 
			 1998–99 82,000 
			 1999–2000 150,000 
			 2000–01 150,000 
			 2001–02 250,000 
			 2002–03 150,000 
			 2003–04 112,000 
			 2004–05 100,000 
		
	
	(60) Inc. TV and radio.
	Additionally, during the period, £101,000 was spent maintaining the Gas Advice Helpline.
	During 2006, HSE is undertaking a major review of the gas safety regime and this will be launched at a stakeholder forum on 20 February. The review is aimed at ensuring that the gas safety regime is based on the most sensible and proportionate approach to managing the risk. It will include research to examine the scale of the CO problem and awareness of the risks.
	Other interdepartmental efforts to promote CO awareness have included:
	HSE has worked with ODPM on their Home Fire Risk Check Initiative, where, in addition to smoke alarm installation, funding is also available for fire and rescue services to purchase and install a number of carbon monoxide detectors to offer additional protection.
	DH produced a leaflet in autumn 2005 about domestic carbon monoxide poisoning that is endorsed by HSE, industry and the registered charity CO-Gas Safety. In his update newsletter of 11 January 2006, the Chief Medical Officer gave advice to all doctors in England on how to recognise CO poisoning.

GPs (Personal Capability Assessments)

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what changes in the role of general practitioners he expects in relation to personal capability assessments for benefits.

Anne McGuire: General Practitioners do not play any direct role in the personal capability assessment; they do however provide medical information as part of the initial evidence gathering process.
	We will be reviewing this process, including the forms that General Practitioners have to complete, to increase compliance with requests for medical information and the quality of the information provided. In addition the claimant's General Practitioner will receive a copy of the new capability report at the end of the assessment process identifying health interventions which would help the individual improve their functional capability so that they would be more likely to return to work.
	Our Green Paper; "A new deal for welfare: Empowering people to work"; has proposals for measures to support this. These include proposals designed to help General Practitioners support patients with health conditions and disabilities to remain in or return quickly to work thus reducing the likelihood of them having to claim incapacity benefits.

Incapacity Benefit

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Tooting are in receipt of incapacity benefit, broken down by age, gender and ethnicity.

Anne McGuire: Information on the ethnicity of incapacity benefits claimants is not available. The available information is in the following table.
	
		Incapacity benefit (IB) and severe disablement allowance claimants in the Tooting parliamentary constituency, as atAugust 2005.
		
			  All persons Men Women 
		
		
			 All ages 3,400 2,000 1,400 
			 Under 25 200 100 100 
			 25–34 500 300 200 
			 35–44 800 500 300 
			 45–49 400 300 200 
			 50–54 500 200 300 
			 55–59 600 300 300 
			 60–64 300 300 (61)— 
			 65 and over (61)— (61)— (61)— 
		
	
	(61) Nil or negligible.
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2. 'Claimant' figures include all IB/SDA claimants, including IB credits only cases. Source:
	DWP Information Directorate, Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent.

Incapacity Benefit

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many new (a) applicants and (b) recipients there were of incapacity benefits in each of the last five years.

Anne McGuire: The information is not available in the format requested. The available information on the number of claims processed each year is in the table.
	
		Incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance claims processed and awarded
		
			 Period (January to December) Claims processed Claims where payment was awarded Claims where NI credits-only were awarded No award 
		
		
			 2001 811,715 258,225 290,300 263,190 
			 2002 806,550 274,410 422,010 110,130 
			 2003 787,525 281,435 428,395 77,695 
			 2004 759,545 261,265 366,475 131,800 
			 2005 691,760 242,745 306,875 142,140 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest five.
	2. 'No award' figures include cases where conditions of entitlement were not met, together with 'transferred out', 'withdrawn', 'deleted' and 'accident declaration' cases.
	3. "Nl" = National Insurance.
	4. Figures for overseas cases are excluded.
	Source:
	MISP 100 per cent. counts.